Mid Wales Hospital, Talgarth, January 2010
After the passing of the Lunacy Act, 1890, the “Commissioners in Lunacy”, later to become known as the “Commissioners of the Board of Control”, after long negotiations with the Councils for Brecon and Radnor and local landowners, chose the “Chancefield” site in preference to one nearer to Three Cocks, although the latter was closer to the railway line. They were probably influenced by the ample supplies of local stone and water – dressed stone for doorways and windows was obtained from outside the area.
To view the Opening Ceremony Souvenir Brochure, full of original images.
http://midwalescountylunaticasylum.fotopic.net/c1802991.html
The hospital, or Brecon and Radnor Asylum as it was first called, was officially opened on 22nd February 1903. This consisted of the main building (12 wards – 6 male and 6 female), Isolation Ward and Farm Ward; and cost £128,710.12.8d. The two female wards East 7 and 8 were added some years later.
Built originally to house 352 patients, the main building was erected to the familiar “butterfly plan” of the era. The estate consisted of some 261 acres.
In addition to the farm, the service departments included tailor, baker, shoe- maker and printing shops and later a photography dark room when a photograph of each patient was taken and affixed to their respective case notes. (This practise continued until after World War II). The market gardens consisted of about 8 acres and an additional asset was a steam powered lorry, one of the first ever to be used in the area. This was used mainly to haul coal and other goods from the local railway station.
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Coming out of Talgarth, you head up the appropriately named, Hospital Road, on route passing the waterall by the old Court House.
Sufficiently frozen, it made a great first stop.
Forward and onward, to the left of Hospital Road is open land.
Evidence of the Asylum origins can be seen all the way up the hill.
Nearing the Hospital entrance, renamed the Black Mountain Business Park
Above the entrance are the former married quarters for the staff.
The lodge and main entrance.
Upon entering the driveway you are met by the for sale sign.
A snip at four million pounds, especially when you realise the whole site was sold for less than a tenth of that, with the added bonus of the tiles still being in place.
The Male Epileptic block, the first ward you meet on your walk up the drive. The austere utilitarian building leaves you in no doubt at all to its original use as a place of confinement.
The snow hides a multitude of sins, This block like every other having been stripped of its weather protecting roof tiles.
Moving up the drive a few yards we find the Chapel to the left, the Workshops and Boiler House to the right.
The Chapel up close.
Behind the Chapel lay the remains of Private Lewis.
Above the Chapel, the Mortuary, desperately hoping the crisp white snow will
deflect from its previous role at the Hospital.
a cheeky glint of the sun.
Above the Boiler House and Engineering yard sits the quite pretty Entrance Block, this building is commonly regarded as the Administration building.
The Administration complex however consists of the East and West Corridors, hugging the Recreation Hall, as well as a further block known from the original build as the Official block.
We now head down the side of the Entrance Block, evident is large amount of demolition that has taken place since closure.
Here we see the rear of the Female Wards, the Epileptic block to the left, Acute block centre, Infirmary Block right.
The rear of the Entrance block with the Chapel in the near distance.
Behind the Entrance block sits the General Stores, this view looks towards where the Library used to be.
Here we see the front elevation of the Female Epileptic block.
The Isolation Hospital sits above the Female blocks.
Female, Acute block.
The same block.
Female Infirmary block to the left, Acute block, top.
Female infirmary block.
The Official block from the Female Infirmary block, Matrons sitting room was situated where the bay window is. The Male Infirmary block can be seen in the near distance.
The Official Block from the Male Infirmary Block, the bay window closest housed the 1st Assistant Medical Officers sitting room.
The Male Infirmary block from the rear of the Official block.
View from the Official block.
Male Infirmary block looking towards the Official block.
Male Acute block to the left, Infirmary to the right.
Male Acute block with modern addition.
The later additions wards, E7 & E8, situated above the Mortuary.
After the passing of the Lunacy Act, 1890, the “Commissioners in Lunacy”, later to become known as the “Commissioners of the Board of Control”, after long negotiations with the Councils for Brecon and Radnor and local landowners, chose the “Chancefield” site in preference to one nearer to Three Cocks, although the latter was closer to the railway line. They were probably influenced by the ample supplies of local stone and water – dressed stone for doorways and windows was obtained from outside the area.
To view the Opening Ceremony Souvenir Brochure, full of original images.
http://midwalescountylunaticasylum.fotopic.net/c1802991.html
The hospital, or Brecon and Radnor Asylum as it was first called, was officially opened on 22nd February 1903. This consisted of the main building (12 wards – 6 male and 6 female), Isolation Ward and Farm Ward; and cost £128,710.12.8d. The two female wards East 7 and 8 were added some years later.
Built originally to house 352 patients, the main building was erected to the familiar “butterfly plan” of the era. The estate consisted of some 261 acres.
In addition to the farm, the service departments included tailor, baker, shoe- maker and printing shops and later a photography dark room when a photograph of each patient was taken and affixed to their respective case notes. (This practise continued until after World War II). The market gardens consisted of about 8 acres and an additional asset was a steam powered lorry, one of the first ever to be used in the area. This was used mainly to haul coal and other goods from the local railway station.
------------------------------------
Coming out of Talgarth, you head up the appropriately named, Hospital Road, on route passing the waterall by the old Court House.
Sufficiently frozen, it made a great first stop.
Forward and onward, to the left of Hospital Road is open land.
Evidence of the Asylum origins can be seen all the way up the hill.
Nearing the Hospital entrance, renamed the Black Mountain Business Park
Above the entrance are the former married quarters for the staff.
The lodge and main entrance.
Upon entering the driveway you are met by the for sale sign.
A snip at four million pounds, especially when you realise the whole site was sold for less than a tenth of that, with the added bonus of the tiles still being in place.
The Male Epileptic block, the first ward you meet on your walk up the drive. The austere utilitarian building leaves you in no doubt at all to its original use as a place of confinement.
The snow hides a multitude of sins, This block like every other having been stripped of its weather protecting roof tiles.
Moving up the drive a few yards we find the Chapel to the left, the Workshops and Boiler House to the right.
The Chapel up close.
Behind the Chapel lay the remains of Private Lewis.
Above the Chapel, the Mortuary, desperately hoping the crisp white snow will
deflect from its previous role at the Hospital.
a cheeky glint of the sun.
Above the Boiler House and Engineering yard sits the quite pretty Entrance Block, this building is commonly regarded as the Administration building.
The Administration complex however consists of the East and West Corridors, hugging the Recreation Hall, as well as a further block known from the original build as the Official block.
We now head down the side of the Entrance Block, evident is large amount of demolition that has taken place since closure.
Here we see the rear of the Female Wards, the Epileptic block to the left, Acute block centre, Infirmary Block right.
The rear of the Entrance block with the Chapel in the near distance.
Behind the Entrance block sits the General Stores, this view looks towards where the Library used to be.
Here we see the front elevation of the Female Epileptic block.
The Isolation Hospital sits above the Female blocks.
Female, Acute block.
The same block.
Female Infirmary block to the left, Acute block, top.
Female infirmary block.
The Official block from the Female Infirmary block, Matrons sitting room was situated where the bay window is. The Male Infirmary block can be seen in the near distance.
The Official Block from the Male Infirmary Block, the bay window closest housed the 1st Assistant Medical Officers sitting room.
The Male Infirmary block from the rear of the Official block.
View from the Official block.
Male Infirmary block looking towards the Official block.
Male Acute block to the left, Infirmary to the right.
Male Acute block with modern addition.
The later additions wards, E7 & E8, situated above the Mortuary.
